A Tale of Two Penalties as Walters Finds Redemption!

Two extra time goals from Jon Walters meant Stoke City ran out 4 – 1 winners over a spirited Palace side in an FA Cup replay played in freezing conditions at the Britannia Stadium. It was a tale of two penalties in normal time as Palace prodigies Zaha and Williams tormented Ryan Shawcross. Yet where Glenn Murray scored on eighty seven minutes, Jermaine Easter failed to convert ten minutes before the break.

Thomas Sorensen starred in goal for Stoke. Saving a penalty from Easter and making a number of other good stops to thwart Palace on a number of occasions, including denying Easter in the closing stages of the second half. Indeed the gulf in experience between the two stoppers on display was evident when a mistake from Lewis Price in the Palace goal allowed a soft Kenwyne Jones header to slip past him when he really should have gathered it up.

There were positives for Palace as the return from injury of Jonny Williams continues at pace as it proved with him being influential in winning the second penalty. Matt Parsons stood up well in defence and the exciting youngster Hiram Boateng linked up well with Zaha in the first half and Bolasie in the second half. Replaced by Moritz on sixty five minutes it was Palace who created a number of chances as the academy product brought energy to the Palace attack, as the Eagles pace and vibrancy was a contrast in styles to the physicality of the Potters attack.

In the end Palace ran out of steam in extra time. Jon Walters came to the fore after last Saturdays horror show against Chelsea to clinically take his chances. An extra time brace from Walters and a Cameron Jerome goal punished Palace for missing opportunities in front of goal. This Put a comfortable 4 – 1 gloss on the score line reflecting Premier League finishing. Palace matched Stoke over two games with two draws in ninety minutes that would have earned two points over a league season.

If they do come up against Stoke in the league next season it will be a clash of styles. Palace has the fight to go toe to toe now when they are still a developing side so with investment on the back of a possible promotion anything is possible. At present however my personal overwhelming feeling is the gap between Premier League and Championship football is absolutely massive and this Palace side is not yet ready to bridge that gap.